Scientists believe that the catastrophic effects of the “dinosaur” asteroid depend on the “where”.

A team of international researchers took a closer look at the impact site of the asteroid that may have played a part in the disappearance of dinosaurs. Ever since its discovery, scientists wondered how such a relatively “minor” asteroid led to such a series of catastrophic events. Now, the latest study argues that its size didn’t really. It was more about when and where it hit.

The “Dinosaur” Asteroid Could Have Had a Significantly Lower Impact

The research team now considers that the dinosaur disappearance was more influenced by circumstances than initially believed. They base their claims on a new study of the Chicxulub or the site of the impact crater of the ‘dinosaur asteroid’. Situated off the Yucatan peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico, it was discovered by geologists back in 1991. It has also baffled specialists ever since.

Chicxulub’s a 20-mile deep impact crater, the result of a somewhat minor nine-mile wide asteroid hitting Earth. The size of the site – 110 miles wide – did not explain its ensuing effects. Now, scientists claim that the place and the moment may have been more important than the size.

They believed that the space rock could have crashed into a massive lode of sulphur-rich rock. This would then explain the resulting global winter that led to the disappearance of so many species.

“Had the asteroid struck moments earlier or later, I might have hit deep water in the Atlantic or Pacific. That would have meant much less vaporized rock. Sunlight could have still reached the planet’s surface,” said Sean Gulick.

He is a professor of geophysics part of the University of Texas at Austin and study co-lead. The international team drilled a 20-mile deep hole inside the Chicxulub and then analyzed the extract samples collected from there.

Professor Joanna Morgan explained that these samples indicate the presence of over 100bn tons of sulfates. Which were then blown into the atmosphere and further alimented by the soot from the ensuing fires. Professor Morgan, part of the Imperial College London is the study’s co-lead.

Research results are set to be further presented in the documentary “The Day the Dinosaurs Died”.

Image Source: Wikimedia

Spiders are natural pest control and this helps us in many ways.

Spiders are not among the creatures that we like. They are not cute and fluffy, but they are natural pest control. They help us get rid of many insects that can do more harm. Without spiders, we will have an infestation of insects. A new study shows that spiders can eat up to 800 million tons of insects every year.

In order to make a comparison, whales eat almost 500 million tons a year. This is a lot less than spiders eat every year. Spiders are the best natural pest control. The best thing is that they are also free. Another great thing that is less known about spiders is their ability to survive.

Their survival mechanism is great. These insects are able to live at high altitudes, in sand dunes, and almost anywhere they can find food. Researchers mentioned that spiders can be found anywhere in the world. They are capable of surviving any type of environment.

Since they are found everywhere it is easy for them to hunt because they can find the prey easily. This also means that they are cleaning the place everywhere they go. Nature has impressive ways of preventing bad things from happening.

Spiders are natural pest control and this helps us in many ways. For instance, they are the ones that kill insects that can infect us with diseases. Without the help of spiders, the insects will overpopulate and they can destroy the environment. The rate of mosquito-transmitted disease will be bigger also.

Despite the fact that there are bad insects, there are also insects that help us. Wasps, bees, ladybugs, dragonflies and many other insects are known for the benefits they bring us. Without them, the environment would suffer.

The fact that spiders eat so many insects every year makes them the best natural pest control. This also shows us how important all animals are. Every one of the creatures that live among us plays a role in maintaining the environment. Once we lose one of them there is no balance anymore. Without the balance, we are the ones that suffer.

What is your opinion about spiders? Did you know that they are a natural pest control?

Image source: Wikipedia

China experiences a large scale bird flu epidemic.

China has been in the grips of a bird flu epidemic which since October 2016, which has attracted the concerns of the United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention, revealing that there have been up to 460 people affected by the H7N9 virus.

According to Dr. Tim Uyeki, a flu expert at the CDC, China’s bird flu epidemic is the largest one yet since 213. Normally, humans have a very low of being infected by the avian virus. Nonetheless, health officials are constantly monitoring the situation, observing that the virus has suffered some alarming changes.

The report of CDC officials reveals that the if H7N9 bird flu virus continues to spread from person to person, then it poses a much higher risk of starting a real epidemic among humans. Among all the 12 bird flu A viruses which were analyzed by researchers, the H7N9 virus had the highest risk score.

According to officials from the World Health Organization in Geneva, despite the low risk of infection to humans, the features of the virus as well as the case fatalities, is quite similar to other previous infections. Furthermore, as the flu virus continues to change, it will pose an increased threat to the overall public health.

The H7N9 strain has already split into two distinct genetic lines, one being prevalent in the current epidemic, which makes the infected birds to not show any of the regular symptoms, at least not in their outward appearance. Furthermore, the strain can even kill up to 40 percent of all the people affected by it and has symptoms similar to the regular flu.

The CDC reports that since 2013, around 1,200 cases of the H7N9 strain infecting humans have been reported. Out of all these cases, more than one-third occurred in 2017 alone. This year’s virus has managed to surpass its earlier versions and now poses an even greater health threat to both poultry and humans.

However, the CDC has reported that it is currently working on a vaccine for the H7N9 strain of the bird flu. The research and development process will still take several months, for the production and testing of the vaccine.

Image source: Flickr

A large penguin colony has arrived on the shores of Argentina.

Nowadays, animals like the penguin have to go even further behind their natural habitat to find fish, which seem to have become a precious commodity, not only for various species of animals but humans as well. An unusual phenomenon took place on the shore of Argentina, where a one million penguin colony has flocked to the region due to the unusual abundance of fish.

According to the wildlife officials from Argentina, the penguin colony that has gathered on the shores of the Punta Tombo peninsula is the largest one yet to have been recorded in the last few years. The large crowd of Magellanic penguins has been a sight to behold for the tourists who visit the region every year.

The Argentinian peninsula has become an ideal nesting ground for the penguin colony, due to the fact that nearby waters have seen a large increase in the populations of sardines, anchovies, and various other small fish and crustaceans, which represent the main food source for the animals.

The Magellanic penguins can be distinguished from other members of the species through the broad crescent of white feathers which are extending above each eye and down to the chin, as well as by a tiny spot of pink on the face. This particular type of penguins, measuring 20 inches tall, are fond of warm weather and tend to breed in large colonies throughout the shores of Chile and Argentina.

However, between March and September, the penguin colony can go as far north as Brazil. They come ashore during September and October in order to lay eggs and search for food. They mostly live in shelters made from bushes or their own burrows.

A large number of penguins seen in Argentina shows that while the birds are not endangered, they are nonetheless threatened by human activity such as overfishing which leads to a decline in fish populations, oil spills and climate change which kills around 40,000 penguins each year.

Furthermore, weather conditions during the hatching period can lead to thousands of baby penguins dying, or be near-death, as chicks don’t do well they happen to get wet.

What do you think about the large penguin colony? Should we do more to protect these animals?

Image source: Wikipedia